Saturday Song: Ian Thomas, "Come the Sun"

In the late sixties and early seventies, it was trendy and hip to sing about Jesus. Many non Christian artists portrayed him as a first-century hippie who got killed for saying we should all be nice to each other.

Though I appreciated hearing songs about my Lord on the radio, I soon learned that those who name his name aren't always doing so for noble reasons.

Listen to this song here.

The people of the world can be excused for their ignorance but not the followers of Christ. Some folks claim to be believers but they just want his power and blessing. Matthew 7:22 (KJV) is a warning to such people from Jesus when Judgement Day comes. "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?"

Some folks become swept up in the emotionality of evangelistic meetings but they have zero interest in being Christ's disciple. As Jesus said in Luke 6:46 (KJV),  "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?"

And in a parable about the end of this age, Jesus warned in Luke 13:25 (KJV) that, "When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open unto us'; and he shall answer and say unto you, 'I know you not whence ye are:'"

So, what do you think of this song and what I've written? Please contact me directly..

On Monday, I hope to publish a post about why Christians must suffer for following Jesus.

God Rewards Sanctified Deeds

In light of what I've presented so far, what does God want of us? Humility is what the Lord treasures in his people.

We read this answer in Micah 6:8 (BBE) regarding what God requires of us. "He has made clear to you, O man, what is good; and what is desired from you by the Lord; only doing what is right, and loving mercy, and walking without pride before your God."
 That puts an end to working for one's righteousness.

The Lord also delights in diligent conduct. When we work for an employer, we must work as if Christ is our boss. As Paul wrote in Ephesians 6:6 (BBE), "Not only under your master's eye, as pleasers of men; but as servants of Christ, doing the pleasure of God from the heart;"

Submitting to elders is another way we show that we are truly Christ's people. In just one example from 1 Peter 5:5 (BBE), we see why we must do so. "And in the same way, let the younger men be ruled by the older ones. Let all of you put away pride and make yourselves ready to be servants: for God is a hater of pride, but he gives grace to those who make themselves low."

We see even in marriage that there needs to be submission and love. Colossians 3:18 and 19 (BBE) says, "Wives, be under the authority of your husbands, as is right in the Lord. Husbands, have love for your wives, and be not bitter against them.

Even kids don't get a break from submission, as is proper in God's family plan. Colossians 3:20 (BBE)) admonishes, "Children, do the orders of your fathers and mothers in all things, for this is pleasing to the Lord."

Giving must also be voluntary. Though God did command various sacrifices, the obeying of them wasn't for salvation but for teaching the sinfulness of sin. We read in Exodus 35:5 (BBE) how people volunteered to give materials for the tabernacle. "Take from among you an offering to the Lord; everyone who has the impulse in his heart, let him give his offering to the Lord; gold and silver and brass;"

Paul also understood the value of a freewill offering. Check out what he wrote in 2 Corinthians 9:7 (BBE) about giving. "Let every man do after the purpose of his heart; not giving with grief, or by force: for God takes pleasure in a ready giver."

The commonality in all these verses is the attitude of love-filled submission. Nobody is to think of themselves more highly than they ought for God judges the hearts.

I'll be emphasizing this in my next book, You Think You're Going to Heaven? Proud people think they're doing God a favour but it's the opposite way around. It's God who shows us favour since we can't earn it.

On Saturday, I hope to post about a song which reminds me of the hypocrisy I experienced in one house church.

Holiness Can't Be Feigned.

The world considers certain religious leaders to be holy. But the world can't judge holiness as it knows nothing about it.

God has much to say on this matter. The most famous passage is 1 Samuel 16:7 (BBE) when David was selected as king of Israel. "But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not take note of his face or how tall he is, because I will not have him: for the Lord's view is not man's; man takes note of the outer form, but the Lord sees the heart.'"

Another good passage which shows how God knows our innermost secrets is Psalms 44:20 and 21 (BBE). "If the name of our God has gone out of our minds, or if our hands have been stretched out to a strange god, Will not God make search for it? for he sees the secrets of the heart."

In the Old Testament, circumcision was a rite which separated Israelite males from those of other Nations. God used metaphorical circumcision to sanctify his people spiritually in Deuteronomy 30:6 (BBE). "And the Lord your God will give to you and to your seed a circumcision of the heart, so that, loving him with all your heart and all your soul, you may have life."

We also have the responsibility to warn others who are sliding toward destruction. As Solomon wisely wrote in Proverbs 24:12 (BBE), "If you say, 'See, we had no knowledge of this:' does not the tester of hearts give thought to it? and he who keeps your soul, has he no knowledge of it? and will he not give to every man the reward of his work?"

Likewise, we read this truth in Jeremiah 17:9 (BBE). "The heart is a twisted thing, not to be searched out by man: who is able to have knowledge of it?" God is the only one who can figure it out.


This truth is even expressed in the New Testament. Hebrews 4:12 (BBE)says plainly, "For the word of God is living and full of power, and is sharper than any two-edged sword, cutting through and making a division even of the soul and the spirit, the bones and the muscles, and quick to see the thoughts and purposes of the heart."

It's obvious that people who say they're holy will be proven wrong on Judgement Day. That's why I feel compelled to write my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? All bishops, priests, and whatever else they're called will answer to God Almighty. Most won't have a decent answer to give.

On Thursday, I hope to post about God's reward for sanctified deeds.

Saturday Song: Hank Angel and His Island Devils, "E-mails Don't Have Arms"

I'm sure we can all relate to being away from some one we love. Though we have various methods of communicating, actually being there is an unsurpassed experience.

This Canadian rockabilly band wrote a country-flavoured tune a few years ago. Listen to it here.

We followers of Christ are in a similar condition. He isn't present physically with us but he gave us the Holy Spirit. John 14:16 (BBE)says, "And I will make prayer to the Father and he will give you another Helper to be with you for ever, Even the Spirit of true knowledge. That Spirit the world is not able to take to its heart because it sees him not and has no knowledge of him: but you have knowledge of him, because he is ever with you and will be in you."

Jesus gave his final instructions to his disciples before he went to the cross. Naturally, they were all saddened and worried by what he said about going away. John 16:7 (BBE) reads, "But what I am saying is true: my going is for your good: for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you."

In many of the letters of the New Testament, the writers expressed wishes to be present with their siblings in Christ. John wrote to a godly lady a short letter but he felt it better if he went to her in person to say what he felt. He wrote in 2 John 1:12 (BBE) that, "Having much to say to you, it is not my purpose to put it all down with paper and ink: but I am hoping to come to you, and to have talk with you face to face, so that your joy may be full."

Paul also wanted to be with his friends but he was constrained by the gospel to preach it all over Asia Minor and southern Europe. After giving instructions on forgiving a runaway slave, he wrote in Philemon 1:22 (BBE), "And make a room ready for me; for I am hoping that through your prayers I will be given to you."

A day will arrive when our Lord will come back to us. As 1 Thessalonians 4:16 and 17 (BBE) says, 'Because the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a word of authority, with the voice of the chief angel, with the sound of a horn: and the dead in Christ will come to life first; Then we who are still living will be taken up together with them into the clouds to see the Lord in the air: and so will we be for ever with the Lord."

On Monday, I'll post about sanctified deeds. They aren't done for the reasons certain people think.

The More You Give, The More God Gives

Please understand, I know that this sounds like a wrong doctrine. After all, we aren't supposed to give so we can get. Even so, God will bless our sacrificial giving but in ways we could never dream of.

Proverbs 19:17 (BBE) reads, "He who has pity on the poor gives to the Lord, and the Lord will give him his reward."

We see the same principle in Luke 6:38 (BBE) which says, "Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, crushed down, full and running over, they will give to you. For in the same measure as you give, it will be given to you again."

Now some folks might think they'll get a lot of praise for drawing attention to how much they give. But Jesus warned in Matthew 6:1-4 (BBE) not to do that. "Take care not to do your good works before men, to be seen by them; or you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. When then you give money to the poor, do not make a noise about it, as the false-hearted men do in the Synagogues and in the streets, so that they may have glory from men. Truly, I say to you, They have their reward. But when you give money, let not your left hand see what your right hand does: So that your giving may be in secret; and your Father, who sees in secret, will give you your reward."

This is one reason I despise tithing. People become inordinately proud of their own accomplishment in giving ten percent of their income.

Such people should remember Ananias and Sapphira and how they tried to get praise for giving so much to the church. Peter said to them in Acts 5:3 and 4 (BBE), "But Peter said, 'Ananias, why has the Evil One put it into your heart to be false to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land? While you had it, was it not your property? and after you had given it in exchange, was it not still in your power? how has this purpose come into your mind? you have been false, not to men, but to God." In short, both he and his wife died that day.

Churches also gave money to other congregations, as we read in Romans 15:26 (BBE), "For it has been the good pleasure of those of Macedonia and Achaia to send a certain amount of money for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem."

So we note that giving to the Lord's work brings benefits even in this world. How wonderful that we can help our poor Christian siblings when we are blessed of God.

On Saturday, I hope to post about a day when we'll be with the Lord, never to be parted again.

Who Are Christ's 'Little Ones'?

For decades, I thought that his little ones were all the children of the world. Certainly Jesus loved children but what he said about the Kingdom of Heaven is really about believers.

Read the eighteenth chapter of Matthew carefully and you'll realize that the child he set in the midst of his disciples was an example of trusting faith. When the twelve asked who would be the greatest in the Kingdom, Christ spoke about those who believe in him implicitly. Matthew 18:5 (BBE) shows that these childlike believers are the ones he meant. "And whoever gives honour to one such little child in my name, gives honour to me:"

Now connect that with Acts 9:4 (BBE) when Jesus blinded Saul with his glory. "And he went down on the earth, and a voice said to him, 'Saul, Saul, why are you attacking me so cruelly?'" Notice the personal pronoune?

When a believer is misled or attacked, Christ feels it. In fact, he considers us his siblings. Matthew 12:49 (and 50 BBE) shows this when his biological family came to see him. "And he put out his hand to his disciples and said, 'See, my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the pleasure of my Father in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother.'"

Jesus also spoke of 'little ones' in Matthew 10:42 (BBE) after instructing his disciples. "And whoever gives to one of these little ones a cup of cold water only, in the name of a disciple, truly I say to you, he will not go without his reward."

Jesus also appears to say in Matthew 18:10 (BBE)that we believers have angels representing us in heaven. "Let it not seem to you that one of these little ones is of no value; for I say to you that in heaven their angels see at all times the face of my Father in heaven."

All this makes me feel glad whenever I hear of Christians being persecuted for their steadfast faith in Christ. They aren't ignored by our Lord but he feels every blow and jab they suffer.

On Thursday, I'll hopefully post about an unorthodox way of getting by giving. It isn't that "faith seed" nonsense either.

Saturday Song: depeché Mode, The Meaning of Love, live.txt

This British synthesizer band had a number of hits in the early nineteen eighties. Though they weren't popular in North America, they were huge in the UK.

This song didn't define the meaning of love but it's a perky number none the less. Listen to it here:

People have a variety of ideas of what love is but here's what the Bible has to say about it. When Jesus was giving his disciples their final instructions before he was arrested, he said this to them in John 15:13 and 14  (BBE). "Greater love has no man than this, that a man gives up his life for his friends. You are my friends, if you do what I give you orders to do."

Love is also others-centred. The Ten Commandments were filled with mostly negatives. But Christ turned those into positive actions. As Paul noted in Romans 13:8 and 9 (BBE), 8 "Be in debt for nothing, but to have love for one another: for he who has love for his neighbour has kept all the law. And this, 'Do not be untrue in married life, Do not put to death, Do not take what is another's, Do not have desire for what is another's,' and if there is any other order, it is covered by this word, 'Have love for your neighbour as for yourself.'"

Furthermore, Christian love extends even to those who hate us. Matthew 5:43 and 44 (BBE)  teaches us, "You have knowledge that it was said, Have love for your neighbour, and hate for him who is against you: But I say to you, Have love for those who are against you, and make prayer for those who are cruel to you;"

And lest you think this is only a New Testament command, Leviticus 19:18 (BBE)admonishes, "Do not make attempts to get equal with one who has done you wrong, or keep hard feelings against the children of your people, but have love for your neighbour as for yourself: I am the Lord."

On Monday, I hope to post on the subject of who Christ meant by his little ones.

What About Religions Which Teach Good Deeds?

To those folks who don't know the gospel, this sounds like a wise question. I can't think of a single world religion which forbids doing good deeds. But doing good works just to better one's chances for a higher place in the next life isn't what gets people into heaven.

Jesus himself gave the answer of how we may receive eternal life. Nicodemus, a ruler of the temple, came by night to ask Jesus this question. John 3:3 (BBE) is his answer to him and all humanity. "Jesus said to him, 'Truly, I say to you, Without a new birth no man is able to see the kingdom of God.'"

And as with our physical birth, we contributed nothing to it. That's why Ephesians 2:8 and 9 (BBE) states without equivocation, "Because by grace you have salvation through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is given by God: Not by works, so that no man may take glory to himself."

This is what makes Christianity radically different from all other belief systems. We can't improve ourselves enough to even begin to reach God's sinlessness. Isaiah 64:6 (BBE) shows us this in no uncertain terms. "For we have all become like an unclean person, and all our good acts are like a dirty robe: and we have all become old like a dead leaf, and our sins, like the wind, take us away."

What people find hard to accept is that we are all sinful. Our basic tendency is to ward wickedness and selfishness. But Christ is lord, meaning the boss, and he must be obeyed. As John 13:13 and 14 (BBE) says, "You give me the name of Master and Lord: and you are right; that is what I am. If then I, the Lord and the Master, have made your feet clean, it is right for you to make one another's feet clean."

Christ couldn't have said it plainer in John 14:6 (BBE) when he told Thomas, "Jesus said to him, 'I am the true and living way: no one comes to the Father but by me."

This is one doctrine which worldly people find offensive. Even so, I'll keep proclaiming it in my book, You Think You're Going to Heaven? Just because we don't like it, doesn't mean it isn't true.

On Saturday, I'll post about what the meaning of love is and I'll feature one of my favourite techno bands' tunes.

Do All Good Deeds Count?

It isn't wrong to do good deeds for others. The problem lies, as with other actions, with the motives behind them.

The chief wrong motive is to butter God up. On the face of it, That's what the people mentioned in Matthew 7:21 (BBE) tried to do. Christ in that verse warns, "Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will go into the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the pleasure of my Father in heaven."

In parable form, Christ told about who really did the will of his father. It was those sheep'' who gave food, shelter, and medicine to his impoverished saints. As Matthew 25:40 (BBE) says, "And the King will make answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, Because you did it to the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'"

But there will be many who thought they were heaven bound who will find themselves in hell. Instead of seeking the will of the Father, they sought to glorify themselves. Christ warned of such individuals in Luke 20:46 (BBE). "Keep away from the scribes, whose pleasure it is to go about in long robes, and to have words of respect said to them in the market-places, and to take the chief seats in the Synagogues and the first places at feasts;"

Earlier on, Jesus compared the covetousness of the Pharisees with leaven that infiltrates and puffs up. Luke 12:1 (BBE) records, "At that time, when thousands of the people had come together, in such numbers that they were crushing one another, he said first to his disciples, 'Have nothing to do with the leaven of the Pharisees, which is deceit.'"

Like many self-important religious people, the Pharisees made a show of their phoney piety. Mark 12:40 (BBE) is part of Christ's condemnation of those wicked types. "Who take away the property of widows, and before the eyes of men make long prayers; these will be judged more hardly."

We have people today who dress in robes and love being called father or minister. We also have people who brag about how they tithe and give. But like Christ warned in Matthew 6:1 (BBE), deeds aren't rewarded when they're done for show. "Take care not to do your good works before men, to be seen by them; or you will have no reward from your Father in heaven."

This will be part of my theme in my next book, You Think You're Going to Heaven? Far too many folks think their good deeds will get them into heaven.

On Thursday, I hope to publish about world religions which teach about good deeds.

Saturday Song: Jethro Tull, "Aqualung"

I once heard an announcer wonder why anybody would write a song about a homeless person. It obviously didn't cross his mind that people might actually care for somebody like that "poor old sod."

Check out Jethro Tull's song here.

I'm glad that Christ cares even for pathetic wretches like the man in the song. We have the guarantee from Jesus that whosoever calls on his name will be saved. John 6:37 (BBE) promises, "Whatever the Father gives to me will come to me; and I will not send away anyone who comes to me."

God loves broken and contrite people. Psalms 34:18 (BBE) reminds us, "The Lord is near the broken-hearted; he is the saviour of those whose spirits are crushed down."

Even the poorest beggar can call upon the Lord of the Universe. Psalms 141:8 (BBE) says, "But my eyes are turned to you, O Lord God: my hope is in you; let not my soul be given up to death."

Moreover, we're charged with the care of our Christian siblings as well as to people who don't believe. James 2:15 and 16 (BBE) reminds us, "If a brother or a sister is without clothing and in need of the day's food, And one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warm and full of food;' but you do not give them the things of which their bodies have need, what profit is there in this?"

Poor people are the most likely to receive Christ as they have no position to be proud of nor pride to get in the way. As Jesus read from the book of Isaiah, quoted in Luke 4:18 and 19 (BBE), "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because I am marked out by him to give good news to the poor; he has sent me to make well those who are broken-hearted; to say that the prisoners will be let go, and the blind will see, and to make the wounded free from their chains, To give knowledge that the year of the Lord's good pleasure is come."

God knew that there never would be a time when there wouldn't be impoverished and broken people among us. He spoke through Moses in Deuteronomy 15:11 (BBE), "For there will never be a time when there are no poor in the land; and so I give orders to you, Let your hand be open to your countrymen, to those who are poor and in need in your land."This is why we have rescue missions today which reach out to folks like Aqualung. Some repent and some don't but the gospel is preached to them in any case.

On Monday, I hope to post about good deeds and which count in God's assessment.

What's Your Motive for Giving?

Believe it or not, God judges our good deeds by our motives. People are impressed with large donations or meritorious actions but the Lord isn't. As I've written before, trying to fool God is like hiding behind a barbed wire fence.

The first-century Pharisees obeyed the law to the letter. In fact, they piled rules on top of rules just in case they accidentally violated a commandment. Jesus sure had something to say about their fake and self-serving piety in Matthew 23:23 (BBE). "A curse is on you, scribes and Pharisees, false ones! for you make men give a tenth of all sorts of sweet-smelling plants, but you give no thought to the more important things of the law, righteousness, and mercy, and faith; but it is right for you to do these, and not to let the others be undone."

I also heartily agree with John MacArthur about the widow's donation of all the money she had. It isn't a lesson in sacrificial giving but a sad example of religious extortion by the temple rulers. Luke 21:1-3 (BBE) comes immediately after Christ's condemnation of the corruption of the temple rulers. "And looking up, he saw the men of wealth putting their offerings in the money-box. And he saw a certain poor widow putting in a farthing. And he said, 'Truly I say to you, This poor widow has given more than all of them.:"

It was after that incident when Jesus foretold the destruction of the temple and its crooked practices in AD70. This corruption was also the reason Christ cleared the temple of the livestock sellers twice.

The kind of giving Christ approved of is recorded in Matthew 6:1-4 BBE). "Take care not to do your good works before men, to be seen by them; or you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. When then you give money to the poor, do not make a noise about it, as the false-hearted men do in the Synagogues and in the streets, so that they may have glory from men. Truly, I say to you, They have their reward. But when you give money, let not your left hand see what your right hand does: So that your giving may be in secret; and your Father, who sees in secret, will give you your reward."

I'll be writing more about the motive for giving, and believing in Christ, in my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? People think they can fool God but they're the fools.

When Saturday comes, I hope to publish about caring for derelict people. Christ had a special heart for the poor.

Why God Wants Mercy, not Sacrifice

One huge mistake people make is to assume that God is only stern and judgemental. I know that I used to believe that. Was I ever wrong.

Throughout Scripture, the heavenly Father wanted a loving relationship with his people. But they consistently rebuffed him when things were going well. Jeremiah 11:6-8 (BBE) is just one example. "And the Lord said to me, 'Give out these words in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying, "Give ear to the words of this agreement and do them." For I gave certain witness to your fathers on the day when I took them up out of the land of Egypt, and even to this day, getting up early and witnessing and saying, "Give ear to my voice". But they gave no attention and did not give ear, but they went on, every man in the pride of his evil heart: so I sent on them all the curses in this agreement, which I gave them orders to keep, but they did not'".

God did give ordinances such as sacrifices but it was his way of teaching the people about the consequences of sin. Hosea 6:4-6 (BBE) shows God's emotion toward those whom he loved. "O Ephraim, what am I to do to you? O Judah, what am I to do to you? For your love is like a morning cloud, and like the dew which goes early away. So I have had it cut in stones; I gave them teaching by the words of my mouth; Because my desire is for mercy and not offerings; for the knowledge of God more than for burned offerings."

Sadly, people turned those ordinances into a religion. They figured that just performing them would get God off their backs. We read how the Lord felt about that in Amos 5:21 (BBE). "Your feasts are disgusting to me, I will have nothing to do with them; I will take no delight in your holy meetings."

God takes rejection personally. When Israel wanted a human king instead of the Lord, it broke his heart. We read this in 1 Samuel 8:7 (BBE). "And the Lord said to Samuel, 'Give ear to the voice of the people and what they say to you: they have not been turned away from you, but they have been turned away from me, not desiring me to be king over them.'"

Jesus, being part of the Trinity, felt the same sorrow of rejection by his people. Luke 13:34 (BBE) demonstrates this. "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, putting to death the prophets, and stoning those who were sent to her! again and again would I have taken your children to myself, as a bird takes her young ones under her wings, but you would not!"

The trouble with people is that we turn God's loving protection into a religion. Instead of obeying out of adoration, people go through the motions in the hope it's impressing the boss. How that must hurt his enormous heart!

I'll be writing more about God's personality in my book, You Think You're Going to Heaven? People forget that God is a person. He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked. Neither does he lack feelings, the same ones he gave us.

On Thursday, I plan on posting about our motives for giving. Those are what count.

Saturday Song: Cat Stevens, "Matthew and Son"

To some folks, "work" is a four-letter word. It's something we do to keep from starving. There are those blessed individuals whose work is a joy but the majority of humanity does it to earn a living.

This song by Cat Stevens is about work and its relentless grind. Listen to the song here:

I remember how shocked I felt when the school janitor told me and some other boys how fortunate we were to have two whole months off from school in the summer. Nobody warned us that adults only get two measly weeks for the whole year.

There was a long-ago time when work was a delight. God gave Adam the task of looking after the garden of Eden. He could work when he wanted to and he could eat the fruit from every tree except one, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. He and Eve didn't have to worry about what to wear to work either.

Of course things changed once Adam and Eve disobeyed God. Genesis 3:17(BBE) tells us how Adam and his descendents were sentenced to hard labour. "And to Adam he said, 'Because you gave ear to the voice of your wife and took of the fruit of the tree which I said you were not to take, the earth is cursed on your account; in pain you will get your food from it all your life.'"

Even so, the Bible has much to say about hard work. Proverbs in particular lauds diligence. Proverbs 10:4 and 5 (BBE) is just one example of this. "He who is slow in his work becomes poor, but the hand of the ready worker gets in wealth. He who in summer gets together his store is a son who does wisely; but he who takes his rest when the grain is being cut is a son causing shame."

And if a person works well and skillfully, even government leaders notice it. Proverbs 22:29 (BBE)says, "Have you seen a man who is expert in his business? he will take his place before kings; his place will not be among low persons."

And as in the physical world, we must be diligent in spiritual things. Regarding the new heavens and the new earth, 2 Peter 3:14 (BBE) admonishes us, "For this reason, my loved ones, as you are looking for these things, take great care that when he comes you may be in peace before him, free from sin and every evil thing."

A day will come when we won't have to toil under the burning sun for sustenance. Revelation 22:5 (BBE) reminds us, "And there will be no more night; and they have no need of a light or of the shining of the sun; for the Lord God will give them light: and they will be ruling for ever and ever." What a hope that is!

On Monday, I hope to post about Why God wants mercy rather than sacrifice.